Hydrostatically balanced adjustable flow bean and locking device therefor



Dec. 15, 1959 E. 'r. SCOTT 2,917,270

HYDROSTATICALLY B NCED ADJUSTABLE FLOW BEAN AND LOCK DEVICE THEREFOR Filed on. 19. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIE-1 INVENTOR. ELMEP 7. SCOTT v )1 I l I ATTOPNEYJ lugs on the mandrel.

HYDROSTATICALLY BALANCED ADJUSTABLE 2 2w BEAN AND LOCKING DEVICE THERE- Elmer T. Scott, Ventura, Calif., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Johnston Testers, Inc., Houston, Tex., acorporation of Texas Application October 19, 1953, Serial No. 386,893

7 Claims. (Cl. 251-96) This application is an improvement of the adjustable flow bean disclosed in the co-pending application'of M. O. Johnston, Serial No. 246,086, filed September .11, 1951, and entitled Adjustable Flow Bean, now Patent No. 2,665,758, issued January 12, 1954. The present invention is more particularly directed to providing an improved form of locking device for a flow bean such as disclosed in said copending application and to pro viding means for hydrostatically balancing the flow bean of said co-pending application to prevent said device from floating out of lock.

It has been found that a flow bean such as disclosed in said co-pending application works very well at relatively shallow depths but that when these tools were run at great depths, the hydrostatic head acting on the lower end of the housing tends to float said housing upward against the action of the loading spring and allow the lock to become unmeshed, thus destroying the control of the device necessary when certain other tools are run below the flow bean. It was further ,found that in some instances in the use of the tool that the drill pipe tended to coil in the hole and to lie in the form of a helix, and hence when weight was applied, the helix would expand against the walls of the hole'and be supported therebyand insufficient weight could be supplied at the tool to release the lock against the spring pressure and the hydrostatic pressure acting upwardly on the mandrel.

It is the principal object of this invention to provide a 2,917,270 Patented Dec. 15, 1959 ing Method andApparatus Therefori issued to Mor- 1 dica O. Johnston, March 9, 1937, and also disclosed-on tool such as disclosed in said co-pending application with a means for hydrostatically balancing the tool to prevent the tool from floating out of lock.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a tool such as disclosed in said co-pending application with a specific lock structure-which will be capable of unlocking under all conditions of well operation.

Various other objects of the present invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figs. 1 and 2 are vertical mid-sectional views showing the upper and lower portions of a flow bean embodying the principles of my invention. I

Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the lock mechanism taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 1.

Figl4 is a fragmental view of the housing adjacent the lock sectionwi'th the mandrel removed to reveal thedetail of the locking lug. 5

' Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the mandrel alone taken on line 33 of Fig. 1. i

pages 2571 and 2573 of the Composite Catalog of Oil Well and Pipe Line Equipment, 1950 edition.

Referring'to the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters designate similar parts throughout, the adjustable flow bean assembly comprises a housing generally indicated at 11 formed of a plurality of parts including anupper sub 12, a nut housing 13, a lower sub 14,. and a bottom sub 15, all suitably threadedly connected together as shown. The bottom sub is adapted to be connected to the upper portion of a formation tester (not shown). Thus, it can be seen that'the housing of the flow bean assembly is adapted to be held Telescopically received within' the housing 11 is an upper mandrel generally indicated at 16, having connected to its upper end an extension section 17 which in turn is adapted to be connected to the lower' portion of a well string (not shown).

A compression spring 18 surroundsthe upperv part of the mandrel 16 and bears at its lower end against a thrust bearing 19, and at its upper end against the lower face of an internally threaded adjustment collar '20 threadedly received by the upper mandrel'extension 17.' Below the thrust bearing 19 is a split ring.21 upon which the thrust bearing is mounted, said split ring bearing against the upper sub 12 of the housing .11. There is a suitable packing 22 between the sub 12 of the housing 11 and the mandrel 16, said pack ing being retained in operative position by a packing gland 23.

As best shown in Fig. 3, the mandrel 16 and the housing 11 arereleasably locked against relative rotative movement by means of lugs 24 and 25 formed, respectively,.on the mandrel and the upper sub 12 of the housing. As best shown in'Fig. 6; the lugsv24 on the mandrelare rearwardly' and upwardly tapered on their forwardface 27, when considered with respect to the direction of normal rotation, at an angle of approximately 15 to the vertical. As can best be seen in Fig. 4, the

lugs 25 in the housing sub .12 are complementally tapered rearwardly and downwardly, as shown at 28, approxiapplicationof down Weight upon the mandrel.

, Disposed below lugs 24 on the mandrel 16 is an enlarged portion 26 which is slidably received within the nut:housing 13 and suitably sealed by 0 rings 27. Hence, the enlarged portion 26 and the smaller diameter portion of the mandrel telescopically received within the upper sub 12 and nut housing'13 define an annular space Fig. 6 is a plane development of one of the locking 1 in U'.S. LettersPatent No. 2,073,107 entitled Well Test- At its lower 7 end 2 upper mandrel 16 is operatively threadedto a traveling nut 29 by means of the coarse threads 30. The traveling nut 29 is slidably but not rotatably received within the nut housing 13 by a spline connection. comprising internal splines 31 on the housing and spline ways 32 on the traveling nut, as shownin Fig. 7., The lower end of the mandrel 16 is counterbored in'the manner shown at 33 forr'easons which will be shown presently. Threadedly secured to the lower end of the traveling nut 29 is a lower tubular mandrel 34 slidably received within the lower sub 14 of the housing. The upper portion of said mandrel 34 is provided with 3, an extension of reduced diameter slidablyreceived within the counterbored portion 33 of the upper mandrel and sealed with respect thereto by means of the O-rings 36. O-ring sealing members 37 are supplied between the lower housing sub 14 and the mandrel 34.

Threaded to the lower mandrel 34 is a lower mandrel extension member 38 which is provided with a plurality of vertically spaced flow bean passages or ports 39 formed in the walls thereof, which ports are normally closed, as shown in Fig. 2, by the walls of the central bore of the sub 14. As is clearly apparent in Fig. 2, the passages or ports progressively increase in size from the lowermost to the uppermost thereof. Between the vertically adjacent passages or ports and above the upper threaded passages and below the lower passage there are provided O-rings 40 carried by the lower mandrel extension 38 in suitable annular grooves formed therein. The lower mandrel extension member 38 carries at its lower end a springloaded downwardly opening check valve 41 which closes the lower end of the tubular extension 38. a

As is obvious from Fig.' 2, the internal diameter of the bottom sub is considerably larger than 'theinternal diameter of the lower sub 14 so that an enlarged bore is provided into which the lower end of the lower mandrel extension 38 extends and into which the portedportion of lower mandrel extension 38 is adapted to be projected to expose one or several ports.

Intermediate nut housing 13 is provided at its lower end immediately adjacent and above the connection to lower housing. sub 14'with a plurality oflateral ports 42, which ports are adapted to permit the well fluid to flow into the annular space 43 between the sub 13 and the lower mandrel 34. The fluid sO' entering into the sub 13 is: prevented from progressing downwardly around the mandrel 34 by means of the O-ring seals 37 previously mentioned, and likewise is prevented from progressing upwardly around the mandrel extension 35 by'm'eans' of the O-ring seals 36. The well fluid entering through ports 42 acts on the upper surface ofv lower housing sub 14 and hence counteracts the" action: of the hydrostatic pressure acting on the bottom of said housing, thus hydrostatically' balancing. the housing. The well fluid also acts upwardly against the lower surface of traveling nut 29 and urgesmandrel 34 upwardly.

. The operation of the device is as follows: The packer incorporated in the testing tool (not shown) adapted to be connected to the bottom sub 15 is first set; then the upper portion of the drill string above the compression spring 18 is lowered in' to move the lugs 24 on the mandrel out of mesh with the lugs 25 in the housing. If the well string should hang up inthe bore and insuflicient pressure be applied to the lock members to move the lugs outof registry with each other, the tapered faces of the lugs will cooperate, upon application ofrotative' torque, with the down pressure being applied and move the lugs out of registry with one another and permit relative rotation between the mandrel and the housing. Upon relative rotative'movem'ent between the mandrel and the housing; the traveling nut being threaded to the mandrel but splined' to the housing will move'downwardly with respect to the mandrel and thus move-the lower mandrel 34- and the lower mandrel extension 38 downwardly, exposing one ormore of the ports 39'to the fiuidin the bottomsub 15. When suflicient rotation has-been accomplished to expose the desired number of the ports 39 to the fluid in 'the bottom sub 15, the well pipe is raised again to reengage the lugs 24-and 25 of the locking device.

nThe flow bean passages serve to restrict the flow of the high pressure formation fluid into the low pressure zone existing within-.thedrill stringand, therefo're',avoidthe detrimental effects which. would otherwise occurin the formation. zone if. it were suddenly exposedto said low pressure area. 'Furthermore, said controlled flow avoidsthe detrimental effects to the formation tester or other equivalent tool caused by the formation fluid which normally contains sand or other abrasive articles which erode or badly wear the formation tool, if uncontrolled flow of the formation fluid into the low pressure string is permitted.

It will be appreciated that prior to the disengagement of the lugs 24 on the mandrel from the lugs 25 in the housing, a rotatable drive is provided through the flow bean assembly, therefore allowing rotative movement to be imparted to devices below the flow bean. However, by means of the taper provided on the forward faces of the lugs 24 and 25, respectively, which, as pointed out above, is insufficient to cause disengagement of the lugs upon normal rotation thereof, the taper is sufiicient to provide positive disengagement of the lugs under the influence of down pressure applied by the well string and even if the down pressure is insuliicient in itself to disengage the lugs.

' It is further pointed out that the provision of the ports 42 in the intermediate housing sub 13, permitting well fluid pressure to be applied to the upper portion of lower sub 14, will tend to hydrostatically balance the tool and prevent the tendency of the housing 11 to float upwardly relative to the mandrel, due to the hydrosatic pressure being applied to the lower end of the housing, and inadvertently disengage the locking lugs 24 and 25 without having any down pressure applied to the well string.

While I have shown the preferred form of my invention, it is to be understood that various changes may be made in its construction by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A device of the class described comprising an upper tubular rotatable mandrel, a housing telescopically and rotatably receiving the upper mandrel and adapted to be connected at its lower end to a packer assembly adapted to be set in a Well bore or casing, a nut threadedly engaging the upper mandrel and slidably but non-rotatably engaging the housing adapted upon rotation of the upper mandrel to be forced downwardly, a lower tubular mandrel carried by the nut and having an upper portion slidable telescopically Within the lower end portion of said upper mandrel, said lower mandrel being slidably received by a small bore formed in the housing, said lower mandrel having a plurality of vertically spaced passages formed in the walls thereof and normally closed by the walls of the small bore, said passages progressively increasing in size from the lowermost to the uppermost thereof, said housing having an enlarged bore therein into Which the lower mandrel is adapted to be progressively projected to progressively expose the passages from the lowermost to the uppermost as the upper mandrel is rotated, sealing means between said telescoping portions of the mandrels, sealing means between said lower mandrel and the upper portion of said small bore in the housing, and ports in the wall of the housing'for admitting well fluid into said housing between said sealing means.

2. A device of the class described comprising an uppertubular rotatable mandrel, a housing telescopically androtatably receiving the upper mandrel and adapted to be connected at its lower end to a packer assembly adapted to be set in a well bore or casing, a nut threadedly engaging the upper mandrel and slidably but nonrotatably engaging the housing adapted upon rotation of the upper mandrel to be forced downwardly, alower tubular" mandrel carried by the nut and having an upper portion slidable telescopically within the lower end portion of said upper mandrel, said lower mandrel beingslidably received by a small bore formed in the housing, said lower mandrel having a plurality of vertically 'spaced passages formed in the walls thereof and normally closed by the walls of the small bore, said passages progressively increasing in size from the lowermost to the uppermost thereof, said housing having an eiilar g' ed bore therein into which the lower mandrel is adapted to be progressively projected to progressively expose the passages from the lowermost to the uppermost as the upper mandrel is rotated, said lower mandrel'having O-rings carried thereby between vertically adjacent passages, below the lowermost passage and above the uppermost passage to sealingly engage the walls of'the small bore to prevent passage of fluid along the exterior of the lower mandrel between the lower mandrel and said walls, O-rings between said telescoping portions of the mandrels, and ports in the wall of the housing for admitting well fluid into said housing between said O-rings.

3. A device of the class described comprising an uppertubular rotatable mandrel, a housing telecopically and rotatably receiving the upper mandrel and adapted to be connected at its lower end to a packer assembly adapted to be set in a well bore or casing, a nut threadcdly engaging the upper mandrel and slidably but non-rotatably engaging the housing adapted upon rotation of the upper mandrel to be forced downwardly, a lower tubular mandrel carried by the nut in, sealed telescopic relation with said upper mandrel and slidably received by a small bore formed in the housing, said lower mandrel having a plurality of vertically spaced passages formed in the walls thereof and normally closed by the walls of the small bore, said passages progressively increasing in size from the lowermost to the uppermost thereof, said housing having an enlarged bore therein into which the lower mandrel is adapted to be progressively projected to progressively expose the passages from the lowermost to the uppermost as the mandrel is rotated, sealing means between said upper mandrel and an enlarged portion of the housing bore, sealing means between said lower mandrel and the upper portion of said small bore in the housing, ports in the wall of the housing for admitting well fluid into said housing between said sealing means, and means for releasably locking the upper mandrel and housing against relative rotation.

4. A device of the class described comprising an upper tubular rotatable mandrel, a housing telescopically and rotatably receiving the upper mandrel and adapted to be connected at its lower end to a packer assembly edly engaging the upper mandrel and slidably but non-' rotatably engaging the housing adapted upon rotation of the upper mandrel to be forced downwardly, a lower tubular mandrel carried by the nut and having an upper portion slidable telescopically within the lower end of said upper mandrel, said lower mandrel being slidably received by a small bore formed in the housing, said lower mandrel having a plurality of vertically spaced passages formed in the walls thereof and normally closed by the walls of the small bore, said passages progressively increasing in size from the lowermost to the uppermost thereof, said housing having an enlarged bore therein into which the lower mandrel is adapted to be progressively projected to progressively expose the passages from the lowermost to the uppermost as the upper mandrel is rotated, said lower mandrel having O-rings carried thereby between vertically adjacent passages, below the lowermost passage and above the uppermost passage for sealing engagement with the walls of said small bore to prevent passage of fluid along the exterior of the lower mandrel between the lower mandrel and said walls, O-rings between said telescoping portions of the mandrels, ports in the wall of the housing for admitting well fluid into said housing above said small bore and below said upper mandrel, and means for releasably locking the upper mandrel and housing against relative rotation.

5. A device of the class described comprising an upper tubular rotatable mandrel, a housing telescopically and rotatably receiving the upper mandred and adapted to be connected at its lower 'end to a packer assemblyadapted to be set in a well bore or casing, a nut threadedly engaging the upper mandrel and slidably but nonrotatably engaging the housing adapted upon rotation J of the upper mandrel to be forced downwardly, a lower tubular mandrel carried by the nut and having an upper portion slidable telescopically within the lower end of said upper mandrel, said lower mandrel being slidably received by a small bore formed in the'housing, said lower mandrel having a plurality of vertically spaced passages formed in the walls thereof and normally closed by the walls of the small bore, said passages progressively increasing in size from th e lowermost to the uppermost thereof, said housing having an enlarged bore therein into which the lower mandrel is adapted to be progressively projected to progressively expose the passages from the lowermost to the uppermost as the upper mandrel is rotated, said lower mandrel having O-rings carried thereby between vertically adjacent passages, below the lowermost passage and above the uppermost passage for sealing engagement with the walls of said small bore to prevent passage of fluid along the exterior of the lower mandrel between the lower mandrel and said walls, O-rings between said telescoping portions of the mandrels, ports in the wall of the housing foradmitting well fluid into said housing above said small bore and below said upper mandrel, means for releasably locking the upper mandrel and housing against relative rotation, said locking means comprising internal lugs on said housing and external lugs on said mandrel adapted to be interengaged when said mandrel is raised with respect to said housing and g to be disengaged when said mandrel is lowered with respect to said mandrel, the forward faces of said mandrel lugs being inclined rearwardly and upwardly with respect tovthe direction of normal rotation, and the mating faces of said housing lugs being inclined complementary thereto.

6. In a well tool, the combination comprising a tubular housing having large and small bore portions, a mandrel having large and small diameter portions telescopically received in the respective portions of the housing for longitudinal movement therein, a portion of said large portions of said housing and a portion of said small diameter portion of said mandrel conjointly defining an annular chamber, and means forming seals between said large portions and small portions respectively to seal said chamber, said housing having a port for admitting pressure fluid tending to expand said chamber so that the mandrel and housing are in one relative longitudinal position, co-acting surfaces on said housing and mandrel which interengage when said chamber is expanded and said housing and said mandrel are in said one position, said surfaces having a plane of engagement in said one position slightly inclined from the longitudinal dimension of said housing for developing a component of force tending to move said mandrel relative to said housing to a second longitudinal position when said housing and mandrel are relatively rotated.v

7. In a well tool, the combination comprising a tubular housing having a bore therethrough which includes an enlarged bore portion intermediate its ends, a tubular mandrel telescopically received in said bore and including first and second sections having threaded connection adjacent an enlarged portion thereof, said mandrel having its enlarged portion in the enlarged bore portion of the housing for longitudinal movement therein, said enlarged mandrel portion and said housing including complementary surfaces to define annularchambers above and below said enlarged mandrel portion, said second mandrel section having a portion slidably but non-rotatably received within said housing and arranged to control flow through said housing, means for locking said first mandrel section and said housing in one longitudinal position of 7 said findm'zindr'el while permitting relative rotax 1 ,429,637 7 Sept; 1%}921 y tion iii alnothei longitudinal position to move said second 2,549,1'98 .Hayward- Apr. 1], 125}; mandrel seetionlongitudinally of said housing through 2,665,758 Johnston et a1 Jan: 12 1 954 salid threaded-connection, and means providing seals be- 2,690,807 Moosman Qct 5, 4. .54;

tween said'mandrel and said housing bore and between 5 2,792,896 Moosman said enlarged portions, said housing having an opening to one of said chambers between two adjacent seal means FOREIGN PATENTS 7 so that hydrostatic pressure tends to expand said one 421,84 Italy r June 3,,1947 chamber;

Referenees Cited in the file of this patent 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS f $48 ,707 Hodges Oct. 29, 1895 

